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I thought I’d kick off my first tea post with the one that Queen Elizabeth II drinks. It was not already in my extensive tea collection, so I had to pick some up on my fortnightly grocery trip.

To be honest, I am not feeling excited about this.  I question her taste in hats on the daily. None of the grocery stores in my area carry Twinings loose leaf. So, with a sigh, I reached for the ombre yellow box. I know Twinings offers their teas both loose and bagged. Grocery stores can’t stock all the options food and beverage companies offer.  They stock what will move.

I set my kettle to boil. I chose one of the smallest mugs I own. Don’t let the pretty cover photo from Christmas Eve 2018 fool you. That is my stepmother’s silver and china. Although I very likely gifted her some of those cups and saucers in the early years of my parent’s marriage. My two smallest mugs are a Doctor Who one from my eldest godson, and a Star Wars lightsaber one from my youngest godson. To the TARDIS!

Water boiled, tea bag opened.  The scent from the bag is surprisingly delightful. The citrus is strong with this bag. While it doesn’t quite smell like the Bergamot essential oil I have, I can tell it has Bergamot in it. Belatedly I look at the box.

Ingredients: Black Tea, Natural Flavours, Bergamot Peel.

Pet peeve: ‘natural flavour’  also see ‘natural flavor’. What does that even mean?  What flavours? Can we narrow down the field? I mean, it’s obvious it’s not natural bacon flavour. I’m not obtuse. I want to know what the natural flavours in question are. Orange? Lemon? Lime? Grapefruit? Something floral?

I brewed exactly a cup. That’s 8 ounces or about 225ml. I steeped the recommended 3 minutes. I’m already having anxiety about following these rules. I need a Sex Pistols tee shirt and some safety pins.

First sip – black tea not overwhelming or bitter, definite bergamot… and… perfume. This is a strongly perfumed cuppa. When I put the mug to my nose I smell what I expect for Earl Grey.  But when I lift to sip, the scent changes to something more intensely perfumy. The taste is mild and doesn’t have the dry finish of a typical black tea. If I didn’t have any of my usual EG blends on hand, and this was an option, I’d drink it happily.

Alright, QE2, I can see why you have this every day. I’m pleased to say that I found some reports on how your tea is made, and I’m relieved. Loose leaf in a teapot poured into a tea cup, strained, with milk, no sugar. While I can’t get behind milky tea, I’m pleased you don’t take it sweet.

I’m also super excited to arrive late to this party – a cookbook! I’ve ordered my copy while typing this up and look forward to it becoming well used in my home.

When my BFF Hipster Wife (also Hipster Wife Tea Photographing Snob) turned me on to Adagio I had no idea I’d end up with a massive collection of teas and herbs, a dehydrator, and a very strong opinion on how I like my tea prepared. This addiction turned my small collection of medicinal herbs and bagged teas to another level.

For black tea I boil the water in a proper electric kettle that has temperature settings. I time my steep for 4 minutes. I measure out one teaspoon WITH AN ACTUAL MEASURING SPOON of tea or herbs per 8 ounces of water. And YES I have measured how much liquid can fit into each of the mugs I use regularly.

Currently the timer sound on my phone is the Game of Thrones theme. It was recently the Sherlock theme for about a year.

Once my tea is steeped, I can’t drink it at 212 F. My tongue and teeth would protest. I either add a few ice cubes or some cold water to top off the mug. I take my tea black. There are exceptions to this. Chai has to have dairy. And if I have a cough or sore throat the medicinal herbal tea I blend may have some honey.

I also enjoy tea at work. My daughter (epic, fantastic human that I made with my own uterus) bought me a pink kettle for my birthday one year. I was given a cup and saucer, and I bought myself a cup and strainer. If you’ve not guessed, pink is my favourite colour.

A coworker will come to my office and sit down while we chat. They look puzzled when I pour the water and set the timer. GoT theme plays, I strain the tea, add cool water, and sip. The Brits and Aussies, Indians and South Africans in my office nod approvingly at my ritual. Americans tend to fall into “that’s a lot of work!” or “how can you not drink that sweet?” (say that last bit with a southern accent).

I also travel with tea. I have a 22 ounce travel mug that gets daily use.

I won’t tell anyone else how they should prepare their tea. I would point out what the internet, books, tea and tisane drinkers through the ages recommend.

While I always enjoyed tea, and spent time reading up on herbalism, it was not until one of my best friends (who is referred to as Hipster Wife) introduced me to proper loose leaf tea that I became a tea addict. The humble ‘herb cabinet’ I had for years housed some boxes of bagged tea and jars of loose herbs for medicinal purposes. My current cabinet is packed full of some boxed, but mostly loose teas and herbs, fandom blends (thanks Adagio!), and my own blends for cough & cold, period pain,  or whatever minor ailment I can soothe with herbs.

Earl Grey is my favourite tea. Specifically Earl Grey Moonlight and Earl Grey Bella Luna from Adagio are my favourites.

I also love baking. I learned in my 30’s that shortbread makes a nicer cut out cookie than any sugar cookie recipe I had made or eaten.  People I serve them to don’t know the difference, but do know they like the cookies. My love of baking shortbread has now branched into adding tea, and figuring out the best gluten free version. This led me down a Pinterest rabbit hole of all sorts of baking with tea, gluten free baked goods, and savory shortbread.

Friends who followed the Adagio Advent Calendar that Hipster Wife and I did in December 2018 will know that I am not a typical reviewer. Hopefully, if you follow this blog, you will enjoy my unique style.